THE GOLD DUTY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 228, 13 June 1872, Page 7

THE GOLD DUTY.

jS'ow that every mining district of importance can boatit of their Mining A iions, it would not, I presume, he out of place to point out a ivay in which they could confer a lasting benefit on the miners of NenZealand. Since their agitation on the Chinese Questions has proved to belabour lu*i— owing, I think, mainly to the wank rc^'.s'uncc offered — I would draw their af'oiiiou t) the Expo)t Duty of 2s. 6^ «?t on we on yohl, which I think is an unjust tux un, their labour. If the Treasury O/fovs vie low, and need replenishing, why bhovbl o)w class bear the hmnt of all? ~lVhy not charge so much a bmltcl on wheat, oaU, <£c. ? or so much on />m-''/TcJ inutfx? in fact, put an export duty on, all proiincial produce, so that it irtfl lie divided? It will be a'nswercd thai it is ucectmry to cihdinue tha Export duty on g<>ld to meet the crira cost entailed on Goveimmni for the management of the Gohlfiebls. For instance, tha ddmlroUUi roii'h ire /»rav con^irwti'il <> th>' same; also t'm cnoi'inons e<'jx'n"c if pui-i'tg one Warden, one Gold Receiver, one Clerk of the Court, and thru' //o'ieenict to look after four or jive districts, vjith a population, of ovjrfour thousand. The revenue derived from miner* rights ic f <»>■; poun I should be red wed at h'vst in nnn-h a'f. Applications, registrations of claims awl wain' races must be something con.^'ilcrub'c. not culculatiny tha amount of dutiable goods consumed by mi.iers, wh\<,h is more than uu eqiiimlent for all they receive. I icunUt aifjyc.il thai petitions for Hi" ulu^ition of the Export Duty on, god, alv f r the reduction of miners' right, to one-half, be drawn up, and two or three delegates, according to population, be appointed from each district, all of whom to meet in Dunedin on a day agreed upon, to present the petitions. Let them be mat who are determined to have justice done to their class. They must not be pv,t off with the worn out sop of " Oh ! we will see into the matter, and let yon know in a few weeks what can be do)ie for you/ Now is the time for every miner in the Province to rise up against this unjust imposition. Let them resolve to agito/c until it is removed. If they but act in unison and show a bold front, the Government dare not neglect their demands for' their rights. If that course, should be 'of no avail, I icouhl advise tlicin to lay in a stock of gunpowder tea, warranted to go off. llemcmber J. Cox, Storekeeper, Waipori. Down with Mo nopoly!— [Advt.J